Her comments hit home when she called a few Warpers away from the battle to deal with the revolt at the gates.

But there was one person I didn’t see and that gave me some hope. “Roze, you haven’t figured everything out.”

She looked dubious. “What have I missed? Valek? Oh, I know he’s here. Magic might not affect him, but Curare will do the trick.”

“No. The Fire Warper.”

“What about him?”

“You haven’t taken into account that he might have different plans than you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Gede and I feed him. We give him his power. Who else would help him?”

“I would.”

I ran toward the fire. Roze’s yell sounded faint over the roar of the blaze. The heat encompassed me in a loving embrace. Burning pain transformed into pinpricks of pleasure. But this time the world didn’t settle into the smooth plain of black. Souls filled my world, writhing and crying with misery. The air stank of decay and infection.

Help! Help! they cried.

The Fire Warper ordered them to be quiet and pushed them away from me. “She is here for me,” he said. “She will not help you.”

He studied me. “You have brought me a treat. No only a soul for the sky, but Moon Man’s bright power will increase my strength.”

Moon Man stood next to me. He peered about the fire world with mild interest.

“I’m sorry you’re here,” I said. “I didn’t plan for it to be you.”

“Why not? I am your guide, Yelena. In life and in death. That never changes.”

“But you said Gede was my new Story Weaver.”

“You were looking for an easy road. Which Gede provided. You could have reclaimed me as your Story Weaver at any time.”

“How?”

“You just needed to ask. Or rather begged for my return—much better for my ego.”

The Fire Warper stepped between us. “How sweet. Now take me to the sky,” he demanded.

“No,” I said.

“You cannot refuse me. We made a deal.”

“I promised to come back. I didn’t promise to take you into the sky.”

“Then you and Moon Man will stay here in misery and I will use your power to reach the sky.” He advanced and grabbed my arms.

My skin boiled as searing daggers of pain spread throughout my body. I screamed, but he didn’t have the ability to take what he wanted. I had to give it to him.

He tried another tactic. Waving with an arm, a window opened and I could see Roze and her Warpers. Leif, Bain, Ari, Janco, Gale, Cahil and Marrok all were staked in the sand.

“They lost. There are a few more left, but when they are captured, the fun begins. However, if you lead me to the sky, I will stop Roze and release all your friends and family.”

I looked at Moon Man.

“If you do not help the Fire Warper,” Moon Man said, “we are stuck here and Roze will send each of them to suffer in this world with us.”

This was the one scenario I had hoped to avoid. “Are you saying that’s what I should do?”

“No. I am merely pointing out the consequences.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Your decision to make. You are the Soulfinder. Find your soul.”

I wanted to strangle him, but he was already dead. “Do you think you could give me a straight answer one time?” I demanded.

“Yes, I could.”

I gazed out as frustration and futility twisted tightly around me. Sensing I was conflicted, the Fire Warper let the souls draw near to me so I could see the fate of my friends. Their cries grew shrill in my ears and the heat baked my skin, making it difficult to concentrate. The fetid odor assaulted my senses.

“Watch,” he said, and pointed to the scene beyond the fire. “Roze has ensnared Irys in a cocoon of magic. She will force her to lie upon the sand and be tied down.”

Sure enough Irys walked toward Roze. She knelt before her. Irys’s eyes glanced to the side before the other Warpers secured her in the sand. I followed her gaze and spotted Valek.

He fought four Warpers with swords, but I knew they threw every ounce of magic at him. And by Roze’s intent gaze, she aimed all her power against him. Even though the magic didn’t work, he still felt the presence and it slowed his movements. A soldier waited nearby with a blowpipe, seeking the first opportunity to hit Valek with a dart.

“And Valek will be next,” the Fire Warper said. “What do you want to do? Watch your friends and lover die or guide me to the sky?”

I held out my hand to Moon Man and to the Fire Warper. “Come,” I said.

34

A TRIUMPHANT GRIN SPREAD on the Fire Warper’s face. Moon Man remained unflappable. He held my hand. Even though it appeared to be made of smoke, his hand felt solid in mine. Moon Man looked at me. The oval shape of his eyes matched Roze’s. Why hadn’t I noticed the resemblance before?

Roze’s comments replayed in my mind. Could I reanimate Moon Man’s body after I took him to the sky? According to Roze, soulless bodies were unaffected by magic. Could I create a small force to help Irys and Valek?

My bat flew around my head. Odd. How could he be here?

Moon Man sighed. I missed the point. It didn’t matter how the bat had gotten here, but why was he here at all. Bats. Opal’s glass bat. I reached for my pocket, but the answer halted the motion. Opal’s sister. Tula!

When Ferde had stolen Tula’s soul and strangled her, I had used my magic to breathe for Tula, but as soon as I had stopped, she had stopped.